Precaria in Argentina: what it is, what it allows and how to renew it

In short

A precaria (residencia precaria) is a temporary permit that Migraciones issues after you file a residence application and until it is decided. Under the new Art. 20 of Law 25,871 (as amended by DNU 366/2025) it is valid for up to 90 days, can be renewed and lets you stay, work, study, leave and re-enter — as long as it has not expired. It does not count toward permanent residence or citizenship and does not replace a DNI. The golden rule: renew on time and don’t plan trips close to its expiry date.

Who gets it and when

• Anyone who filed a residence application in RaDEX while in Argentina: parents of an Argentine child (family reunification residence), rentistas, students, workers and others.
• It is issued after an initial check of the application — before the in-person appointment at Migraciones. The file number (expediente) is in the upper-left corner of the certificate: you need it to renew and to check your status.
• The certificate is electronic. Keep the PDF on your phone and print a couple of copies.

What a precaria allows — and the caveats

What a precaria does not do: it does not guarantee approval, it does not count as “arraigo” — the residence time needed for permanent residence and naturalisation — and it is not a DNI.

Validity and online renewal

1. Validity. Up to 90 calendar days (it was 180 before DNU 366/2025). The expiry date is on the certificate.
2. When to renew. According to the Migraciones FAQ you can request renewal from 15 days before expiry; the Buenos Aires City website mentions a 10-calendar-day window. Go by the earlier date and don’t wait for the last day.
3. Where. On the Migraciones status portal, with your file number and date of birth. No agents are needed, and you can upload scans from your phone.
4. Important: online requests are only processed for people who are in Argentina.
5. Payment. The renewal fee for non-Mercosur nationals is 10,000 pesos under the current table. Card payments clear immediately, cash payments take up to 5 business days.
6. Download. The new certificate is downloaded from the same platform, usually within 10 business days.

If your precaria was issued by specific Migraciones units (such as the Dirección de Control de Permanencia), renewal is requested by email — the addresses are on the FAQ page.

If your precaria has expired

• Your status becomes irregular: employers and banks may suspend dealings, and you cannot leave on an expired certificate.
• To leave you need a separate permit, the “habilitación de salida”; the fee for non-Mercosur nationals is 40,000 pesos.
• Your residence application does not disappear automatically, but don’t take chances: check your file status on the portal as soon as possible, try to request renewal and, if the system won’t let you, book an advisory appointment at Migraciones.
• Don’t leave “to come back as a tourist” without assessing the consequences: it can complicate your application.

Travelling abroad: what to watch

• You must come back before the precaria expires: you cannot enter on an expired one.
• If the renewal window falls during your trip, you cannot renew from abroad, because online requests are only processed for people in the country. Renew before you fly or shorten the trip.
• Avoid travelling when your in-person appointment invitation might arrive: a missed appointment delays the file.
• If your passport needs a visa to enter Argentina, check with the airline and Migraciones how you will be admitted with a precaria: the official page says nothing about visas by nationality.
• Parents building residence time for citizenship should remember: Migraciones currently requires two years with no trips abroad, and time on a precaria does not count.

Banks, renting, healthcare

• Banks. Many banks only open accounts with a DNI; with a precaria, at best some digital banks and wallets are available. Plan your first months’ finances as if you won’t have an account — see Your first month in Buenos Aires.
• Renting and phone. A passport is usually enough for a lease and a SIM card; the precaria is useful as proof of lawful status.
• Healthcare. Private plans (prepagas) usually work with a passport or DNI; since 2026 national public hospitals may charge foreigners without permanent residence for non-emergency care, while emergencies are free. More in health insurance during pregnancy.

Common mistakes

• Missing the renewal window while waiting for the Migraciones appointment.
• Flying out without renewing and ending up abroad with an expiring precaria.
• Counting precaria time toward the two years for citizenship or the three years for permanent residence.
• Not keeping the PDF and file number — without them, renewal and status checks become a quest.
• Paying “agents” to renew: it is a free online procedure apart from the official fee.

How we help

We file your RaDEX application, remind you of deadlines and renew the precaria until you get your DNI — this is included in the Premium package; the full route is in Birth in Argentina: step by step.